Upon retiring, many seniors lose their dental coverage, which makes finding free dentures and dental care a priority, if these services are available for free.

Now, as you might imagine, this isn’t easy to come by, but there are a few options out there.

So what I am going to do is to go over the organizations that can provide these services for free…

…Also, if for any reason you do not qualify for any of the services below, I have written on a separate page about dental discount plans where anyone, seniors included, can receive significant savings off their dentures and dental work.

Free Dentures and Dental Care

First, due to the tremendous number of requests I have received to break this information down by state, I have put together a list of free dental care by state, listing state agencies and contact information for local clinics. You can view that information here.

They are a nationwide group of doctors and dentists that provide free services for all age groups, including seniors.

There are financial requirements that you must meet in order to qualify but I would recommend that you take the time to investigate this resource.

Next, investigate the Dentist Care Foundation of Mercy and see if they have an event coming to your area. This is group of volunteer dentists that travel the country assisting those without dental insurance.

Another new resource available is ToothWishdom.org, which features a comprehensive listing of dental programs available in 50 states.

The Dental Research Programs Directory may be able to provide you with free services for your dental needs. You can search by state or by procedure to see if you could benefit from the free clinical trial.

In addition to those above, there are several options below:

Explore some university-based dental colleges to see if they take patients. You would have your dental needs taken care of by the students at that university under the supervision of the professors at the college.

It should be noted that this is not done for free, but would be done at a reduced rate.Call your local Office of the Aging to see if they know of any dentists in your area that would be willing to help low-income individuals or a pro-bono basis.

Another good source for this type of information would be your local Lion’s Club. They also may be able to put you into touch with state agencies that can assist you as well.

Free Dentures

Free dentures are hard to come by. However, there are a few options out there for needy senior citizens.First of all, please remember that Medicare is not an option for free dentures. Medicare will not pick up the tab for low-cost or free dentures.

Now, you should definitely research all of the options that I listed above under the ‘Free Dental Care’ section, but in addition to those, here are a few ideas that may come in handy when you are looking for a free set of dentures.

Your state dental association – through your state’s dental association you can typically find programs for low-cost or free dentures.

Local charities – many groups on the local level, like the Lion’s club, will be in a position to know if a local dentist is willing to do this type of work on a pro-bono basis.

Your local Office of the Aging – while it could go by another (ie: Division of Senior Services) because they work with so many senior citizens you may be able to get great information from this agency on how to get free dentures.

Is there a financing option? Many area dentists may be in a position to have you make installment payments which would reduce the financial burden on needing dentures.

Are you willing to volunteer for any research projects? I listed it above but want to say again that the Dental Health Research website may be just what you are looking for.

You would be ‘testing out’ a new type of dentures, but they would be yours. It doesn’t hurt to check to see if there are any clinical trials you could participate in.

If Not Free, Then Cheap Dentures

Ok, if you are like many people then you did not qualify for free dentures using one of the programs above…but what about cheap dentures? Where can you go to find a set of cheap dentures?Try your local dental college.

This may be a shot in the dark but if you call a few local schools you may have the ability to get seen by some of the students at the dental college. This is not as bad as it may sound. The work done on you will be well supervised under the care of expert professors and you will be receiving the set of cheap dentures you need.It is important to note that not every dental school will do this…but it is worth a shot if it means that you will be saving potentially thousands of dollars.

Recap

Combined, there are close to a dozen options for you to look at when exploring free dentures and dental care. And I realize this won’t be easy. You will have to look online, make phone calls and may have to wait in order to receive the services you are looking for.And if they are not available, or you do not qualify, then you need to look for these services where it is provided in the most economical way possible.

Start with the National Association of Free Clinics, the American Dentists Care Foundation and the Dental Research Program directory. Check those websites against where you live (you didn’t mention in your post) to see if there are any free clinics or traveling road shows coming to your area.

I would also seek out a local branch of the Lion’s Club in your area to see if they know of any local programs that aren’t actively promoted.

my front teeth broke off so now i just have one in front, i have like 6or 7 that have broken off on the top, they hurt so bad. any way i need some denture program have no insurance or job or money, no car either so if anybody knows of charites in the contra costa county around pittsburg or antioch,i would appreciate the information. thanks

I had called and talked to the Ohio Dental Association and they had given me a phone number to call and based on your income you may be eligible to recieve free dentures after filling out the packet that they mail you. The place is called Dental Options and they may help in other states but it is worth a shot to call and see the number is 1-888-765-6789. I had called for my mother and she is eligible so thank you for the information that you had posted. The only thing is there is a waiting list so it may not be right away but she is going to get the help she needs!!!

I am 62 on SS and live in Florida. I tried the links above and could find no clinics or research options near me. I am sadly in need of having at least two or three broken cavities surgically removed and possibly getting dentures. Any ideas on where to look in South Florida? I live about 1/2 an hour north of West Palm Beach.

i am 53yrs. old. i just started receiving social security disability in feb.2013. i do not get my medicare until dec.2013. my husband just lost his job. i will be without health or dental insurance. i am scheduled for oral surgery tommorrow to have wisdom teeth cut-out & the rest of top & bottom teeth removed total 27. i need to find free dentures. please help me. thank you for your time sincerely Cathy Partin

The best thing for you to do is to contact your state dental association. If you look through the other comments made on this page you can see that this idea was successful for Sarah. She was connected through her state dental association to a non profit that is getting her mother dentures. Perhaps your state dental association can do the same.

Hello I have a dear lady friend who is 67. She is low income and is disabled. She is in serious need of new dentures. She is having a surgery to remove some tissue on top gums that are very swelled and sensitive now. They told her she will need new dentures. She is currently unable to wear the once she has now. She lives in Spencer TN. Would you be able to refer me to someone to help her?

Hi I am disabled, low income, raising grandkids an cannot afford dentures. I have had my teeth removed from an incident the dentist removed my front teeth due to bad crowns. Root tip was broken at tip an pushed into my nasal cavity, long story short, I also was left with bad bone spurs an needing oral surgery to remove them before dentures. I suffer facial pain, an hardly can eat, my gums constantly throb with pain. Is there a place in DFW that assists with both, I’m on SS, and Medicare doesn’t cover dental. I’ve tried the Texas Donated Dental Services TXDDS the wait is 3 yrs.thanks!

You are right. Of all of the states I have researched Texas seems to have the most limited options available. I would try looking into the National Association of Free Clinics as well as ToothWisdom.org, both listed on this page, for help.

Both of my parents are in serious need of getting dentures, neither have had them before so we are needing tooth extractions also.
We went to an affordable denture clinic and they have great deals but we are not able to come up with that much cash at one time. The denture office wants all work to be paid in full. No payment plans offered.

Both parents are on S.S., no dental coverage.

I have called a few places but am just having no luck…
Any information would be greatly appreciated!!
God bless!

Iam a black women who worked all my life retired after 30 years with no dental care raising 5 grandchideren it could happen to anyone . I have no upper teeth do to health. why is it welfare people took my taxes dollar to be fully cover them and I have to suffer toothlest for the rest of my life . I get retirement and social I am consider not poor.help me .

I am a 57 yr old female, who has lost most of her teeth to gum disease. I cannot pay for any type of dental care, I’m on food stamps and Medicaid. I will definitely need dentures. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

My mother is 83 yrs old and has medicare but no dental coverage. She lives with me and she just broke a lower tooth and is complaining about her dentures and her mouth hurting. She is eating less and losing weigh. I am concerned. We live in Tucson, AZ. – are there organizations that can help her?
Thank you for any assistance you can provide.
Anne Marie